The nose is the most visible part of the face, and it is its shape and general appearance that determine the perception of a person by others. Many of us are not happy with our nose: some do not like its size or shape, others suffer from a hump or wings that are too wide, and still others want to fix the tip of the nose that rises well or, on the contrary, yeslower. All these problems are solved simply to the delight of patients with the help of one of the oldest plastic surgeries - rhinoplasty.
Rhinoplasty- surgery to correct (change) the shape or size of the nose, which is aimed at improving its appearance, as well as eliminating problems with nasal breathing and creating a psychologically comfortable state of the patient.
Types of rhinoplasty
Distinguish between aesthetic and reconstructive rhinoplasty.
The main goal of aesthetic rhinoplasty is to correct the "mistake" of nature by changing the shape or size of the nose, and thus give the face a more harmonious and attractive appearance. Aesthetic rhinoplasty can be complete or superficial (partial).
Complete rhinoplasty is a plastic surgery during which the surgeon touches all the structural parts of the so-called external nose: bone tissue, cartilage tissue, as well as soft tissue. This is indicated for patients who wish to reduce the length or width of the nose, change the shape of the saddle and remove the hump.
Partial (or superficial) rhinoplasty is an operation to correct (change) the shape of the nose, when the surgeon only processes some external parts of the nose, without affecting the bone tissue. Partial rhinoplasty is performed if it is necessary to correct the tip of the nose or reduce the wings, although a complete rhinoplasty may also be necessary to eliminate such problems - this is decided by the doctor after the examination and conversation with the patient.
Reconstructive rhinoplasty is mainly aimed at solving a problem such as the elimination of breathing difficulties due to the curvature of the nasal septum or the hypertrophy of the turbinates. Reconstructive rhinoplasty involves restoring the appearance of the nose, damaged (for example, "slipped sideways" due to a fracture), as well as partially or completely lost due to an injury. This type of operation is used if it is necessary to correct the congenital deformity of the osteochondral skeleton in the nasal region. Sometimes a plastic surgeon has to literally "sculpt" a new nose, using cartilage from the auricles or rib cartilage (in particularly severe cases), as well as artificial materials.
Often the patient has to undergo surgery not so much for aesthetic and aesthetic purposes, but to restore normal breathing, which was impaired due to the deformation of the nasal septum received during the trauma. Typically, post-traumatic surgery includes nasal plastic surgery and septoplasty (surgery aimed at correcting the nasal septum, its main goal is to restore normal nasal breathing).
Preparation for rhinoplasty surgery
Before deciding on an operation, the patient, together with the plastic surgeon, discusses the future parameters and appearance of the nose, finds out what exactly the patient wants to achieve, and the final result is simulated using a computer. This approach helps to "try on" the new nose on the patient's face before the operation and to make sure that his new appearance does not violate the general proportions of the face, and the shape of the nose will blend harmoniously with all facial features.
It should also be borne in mind that rhinoplasty is not performed if the patient has not reached the age of 17-18. This is due to the growth of the body and the formation of cartilage and bone skeleton; the consequences of rhinoplasty at an early age can be unpredictable. But it is desirable to resort to rhinoplasty no earlier than 21 years old - doctors say that it is at this age that the bone skeleton finally formed.
Features of nose correction surgery
Rhinoplasty is recognized as one of the most difficult plastic surgeries: after all, it is important not only to change the nose and give it the desired size or shape, but also not to disturb nasal breathing. Therefore, such an operation should only be performed by an experienced specialist who has already proven himself and has good patient reviews.
Rhinoplasty can be performed with both open and closed access. Open access involves a skin incision from the outside, which will eventually be almost invisible. With a closed access, the surgery is performed from the side of the nasal mucosa (through the nostrils) without external incisions and leaves no trace. Closed rhinoplasty is considered more difficult and requires the special skill of a plastic surgeon.
The type of access is determined directly at the consultation and depends on many factors: the shape of the nose, the characteristics of its structure and the desired final result. The operation to correct the size or shape of the nose is performed under local anesthesia or under general anesthesia: the choice of anesthesia is influenced by the complexity of the surgery and the duration of the proposed operation. . . . In any case, the patient completely gets rid of pain and does not feel any discomfort.
Postoperative period
Rhinoplasty is a serious surgery that requires not only the professional approach of the doctor, but also the responsibility of the patient himself during the rehabilitation period. The postoperative period is painless. Only the first few days, tampons, which make nasal breathing difficult, bring some discomfort to the patient.
A fixing plaster bandage is applied to the nose, which is removed from time to time for skin care, in general, wearing such a bandage is mandatory for 7-10 days. During this time, the primary edema usually disappears and the bruises and swelling under the eyes disappear. The residual subcutaneous induration, almost invisible to others, disappears completely in the period of 6-8 months. It is after this time that the final result of the rhinoplasty will be visible.
As a rule, the patient is discharged the day after the surgery, but still remains under the supervision of a doctor, arriving at the clinic for examinations and dressings. The general recovery process after rhinoplasty surgery lasts about a month, during which the patient is prescribed to wear a special bandage in the nose area, as well as limit physical activity and eliminate bad habits (smoking, consumption ofalcohol).
A patient who has undergone a rhinoplasty must undergo mandatory examinations with a plastic surgeon 3, 6 and 12 months after the operation.
Contraindications for rhinoplasty
An experienced plastic surgeon will refuse to perform the operation if the patient has a history of the following diseases:
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- blood clotting disorders;
- chronic liver and kidney diseases in the acute stage;
- oncological diseases;
- infectious diseases;
- mental disease.
Of course, rhinoplasty is a serious step in the life of a person who dreams of changing his nose and at the same time his life. But many of us understand this perfectly: if some flaw, even significant, of the figure can be "masked" or even turned into advantages with the help of clothes, then a bad nose is the first thing others pay attention to when lookinginside face. And if this same nose is too big or hunchbacked, then such a "spectacle" can not be hidden in any way, it will always spoil the appearance and mood. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary to decide on surgery and correct the shape or size of the nose, which will suffer for life, sighing every time you look in the mirror.